CROP CRACK -   8.12.07
By WENDY FEARON
Clarendon Agricare - Hedgerow Weed Control

Winter is the best time to control weeds around young hedges and trees. Season long control of grasses and most broad-leaved weeds is possible by applying KERB GRANULES at this time.KERB is a pre- and post-emergence residual herbicide that provides selective, broad spectrum weed control.

KERB can be applied to all soil types, therefore allowing its use in many areas where weed control is needed.KERB is the ideal herbicide for forestry and woodland (including farm forestry), ornamental shrubberies and rose beds, hedges, fence lines and gravel pathways.

Young trees can all too easily be lost to the choking effect of weeds. Conifers and Norway spruce grown for Christmas tree production can be treated with KERB without any risk of phytotoxicity.It is safe to apply over the leaves of all popular tree species without risk of damage. 

KERB requires soil moisture for root uptake to take place. If warm, dry conditions prevail after application then weed control may be reduced. The best residual action is therefore achieved in moist, cold soils. Although KERB can be applied in all weather conditions, application on top of snow, or to severely frozen ground should be avoided if there is any risk of surface run-off.

Cereals

Ground conditions have deteriorated over the last week and it may be a while before we can travel on the ground again. Now is the time to consider soil analysis to determine what fertilizer should be applied in the spring.

Sprayer Calibration

I would like to remind you again the importance of maintaining all farm machinery especially sprayers. All too often serious problems arise due to very simple errors with the sprayer. Calibration is important as a properly calibrated machine can save money and improve efficacy. For a certain category of pesticides which are applied using a ground crop sprayer to land near to a watercourse, there is a legal obligation to carry out and record the results of a Local Environment Risk Assessment for Pesticides, LERAP. By carrying out a LERAP the size of the buffer zone may be reduced.